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Arizona House votes to repeal Civil War-era abortion ban

Three Republicans crossed party lines to vote with Democrats. If passed by Senate, Arizona governor says she will sign.

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Updated April 24, 2024 at 5:09 p.m. EDT|Published April 24, 2024 at 3:22 p.m. EDT
Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma (R) in Phoenix last week after Republicans blocked the procedural vote to fast-track a repeal of the 1864 abortion ban. (Patrick Breen/USA Today/Reuters)
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The Arizona House voted Wednesday to repeal a Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions that is set to take effect as early as June 8. The measure now heads to the state Senate, which could grant final passage next week.

The 1864 abortion law took effect briefly after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 but was soon blocked by the courts. It was later revived by the state’s highest court April 9, inciting national uproar and political panic among Republicans who worry that the ban will hurt their chances of winning elections this year, including the presidential contest.